The Dodgers signed Kyle Tucker to a 4-year, $240 million deal ahead of the 2026 season. But the right fielder has yet to deliver what’s expected of him, despite the regular season nearing its end. After another offensive letdown during Sunday’s 6-2 loss, fans booed Tucker when he faltered in right field as well. Foul Territory posted the now-viral video of Tucker’s defensive blunder on X, while fans booed loudly.

According to Foul Territory’s clip that now has over 1.2 million views, “Fans booed Kyle Tucker after he failed to make this catch in right field. Tucker went hitless on the Dodgers’ seven-game homestand.”

Tucker is facing an unusual problem in his first season as a Dodger. His production declines as soon as he is at Dodger Stadium. Tucker is slashing .189 AVG in 60 home games with only 2 homers, 39 hits, 30 runs, and 17 RBIs. However, the story on road games is entirely different. He holds a .275 AVG with 9 homers, 36 runs, 57 hits and 37 RBIs across 57 games.

Though neither the Dodgers nor Tucker has figured out the reason behind it, manager Dave Roberts chose to act on it. On Saturday, he rested Tucker for a second time this week. However, he was back for the series finale.

It appears the off day did little to help Tucker, as he went hitless in the crucial game. He is now 0-for-19 in this homestand. With Tarik Skubal on the mound, Tucker was a part of the offense that failed to provide run support to the newly acquired Cy Young winner from the Detroit Tigers. Skubal only allowed 2 runs across the six innings he pitched, striking out 7. When he left, the game was still within reach, with the Dodgers trailing 2-1. But a quiet offense and bullpen meltdown lifted the Brewers over the home team.

On top of going hitless, Tucker faltered in his right field duties also. At the top of the ninth, with the Dodgers trailing 4-1, he failed to make a routine catch after Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio hit a fly ball. But the misery did not end there, and it angered the fans even more.

Tucker’s lack of urgency was evident, as he fumbled the ball and then jogged after it. The misplay helped Luis Lara reach third base. Chourio and Lara both scored on errors later in the innings, cementing the score at 6-2.

As per Doug McKain on X, “He’s now hitting .232 with a 97 wRC+ and has posted a -6 OOA in right field. At this point, he hasn’t been that much better than Michael Conforto-and he’s costing more than $40 million more.”

Yes, Tucker’s struggles are evident, but with the series against the Colorado Rockies next, Dodgers loyalists would hope for a better result.

The post Kyle Tucker Booed by Fans After Defensive Blunder During Dodgers Loss appeared first on EssentiallySports.

“This unfortunately happens with the Dodgers. A young starter covers a ton of innings until he breaks,” Dodgers analyst Doug McKain wrote on X. “Happened with Gavin Stone in ’24. Kershaw played the role last year.”

Wrobleski pitched 6.0 innings in the 4-1 defeat against the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday. That was his fifth loss as a starter this season. But the concern soon went beyond his record as he developed left forearm inflammation. And the Dodgers had to place him on the 15-day IL. This means he is highly unlikely to recover and be fully healthy to return to the mound before the regular season ends. 

Justin Wrobleski started 20 games in his 21 appearances this season, and he has already covered 126.1 innings. That’s why the insider is pointing his finger at the Dodgers’ workload management. And McKain said that Wrobleski isn’t the only instance of such issues. 

Gavin Stone underwent major right shoulder reconstruction surgery to repair a capsule tear in 2024. He was healthy and made his Cactus League debut in February 2026. But his shoulder inflammation resurfaced, and it’s been almost two years since he played a single game in the majors. The reason? The analyst points to his huge workload in 2024. 

Stone had 25 starts in his last season and threw 140.1 innings. McKain also mentioned Clayton Kershaw having a similar challenge. He had quite a high number of innings, but luckily, the veteran didn’t suffer an injury. The youngsters, however, couldn’t endure the demanding stress. 

It’s particularly concerning how they are missing so many games in their prime.

Stone is currently 27, and he has not played a single major-league game in almost two years. Wrobleski is only 26. The analyst also emphasized that pitchers like Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow should have rejoined the roster a long time ago. Snell returned after three months; but Glasnow’s return timeline remains unclear.

The Dodgers’ biggest star, Shohei Ohtani, is also serving as DH. The two-way player has been off his pitching duties since July 3 due to knee inflammation. While many thought it resulted from base running, Ohtani mentioned that it was actually his flawed pitching mechanics. He also had a heavy workload, often going over 100 pitches in a game. 

This means Justin Wrobleski’s injury and workload management aren’t isolated issues in the franchise. For now, they have recalled RHP Kyle Hurt as a replacement. Meanwhile, they have dropped three of their last four games and lost the series against the Brewers. The overall scenario doesn’t look very promising.

The post “This Unfortunately Happens”: Dodgers Analyst Gives Reality Check on Embarrassing Streak Concerning Starters appeared first on EssentiallySports.

Tommy John described the terrifying moment when, after throwing a fastball, he suffered a devastating injury to his left elbow in 1974, and it appeared to be the end of his career. Though that wasn’t enough to stop him, he took a chance on a revolutionary procedure that not only allowed him to continue winning games for another 14 seasons but also transformed baseball.

John underwent ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) reconstruction in 1974 and returned to the mound in 1976. He went on to achieve 288 wins and 2,245 strikeouts before retiring in 1989. Now, as the entire baseball community mourns his passing, people aren’t simply remembering a great pitcher. They are paying homage to a player who told Dr. Frank Jobe, “You’re a great doctor, and I believe in you. But you’re wrong. I will come back,” when the team physician thought he would never throw another pitch.

Thomas Edward John Jr. was born in Terre Haute, Indiana, on May 22, 1943. He was excellent in both baseball and basketball as a student. After he graduated in 1961, several schools recruited him for basketball, but it was Cleveland scout Johnny Schulte who was bedazzled with John’s curveball, and the club signed him that year at the age of 18. 

The day he first left for his pitching job, his old man told him something that has been etched in his mind:

“Good luck, Tommy. Just remember one thing: whether you make it big in the big leagues or you don’t, you’ll always just be Tommy John from Terre Haute, Indiana.”

The lefty joined the Dodgers in 1972 after spending a couple of years with Cleveland and seven seasons with the Chicago White Sox. Just two years later, in 1974, he suffered a devastating injury that had many believing his career was over. But after team physician Dr. Frank Jobe performed a revolutionary four-hour procedure on Sept. 25, 1974, John refused to give up on his career.

“You did an excellent job inside my arm. Now it’s up to me,” he told the doctor. “I know how much pain my body can stand – and it’s quite a bit. And I know how hard I can work, and if it takes 18 hours a day, I’ll do it. I will come back.”

And he did.

Tommy John recorded 164 wins and earned three All–Star selections after the surgery. He was also the runner-up for the Cy Young Award twice. His incredible achievement through 14-years after the UCL reconstruction changed the definition of the surgery. Instead of its original name, the surgery has been renamed Tommy John Surgery (or simply TJ), and has redefined the game for pitchers.

Jacob deGrom, for example, created history by becoming the first pitcher to win a Cy Young Award after the surgery. In fact, many other prominent pitchers, from Shohei Ohtani to Tarik Skubal, from Chris Sale to Jonny Venters, achieved incredible success after the surgery. But John was the first to show the world that it was possible. 

Beyond the diamond, he is remembered as kind and friendly. Back in 1981, reporter covering UNC found him exceptionally chatty. 

Tommy John had quite a long and unscheduled interview with Chip Alexander. He discussed almost everything from his childhood days to his career-saving surgery. This was quite incredible for a person who was once prevented from giving his high-school valedictory address because of his stuttering problem. 

The person who immortalized a surgery and transformed one of the biggest setbacks into a success story in baseball passed away on August 15, 2026. He is survived by his children and wife. The legend had been suffering from bladder cancer since 2024 and was put in hospice care. He developed Guillain-Barré Syndrome after a long fight with COVID-19 and ultimately lost the battle at the age of 83. 

The post MLB Veteran Who Risked His Career With Surgery That Changed Players’ Recovery Dies at 83 appeared first on EssentiallySports.

To add to the Dodgers’ recent woes, Wrobleski landed on the injured list the day after with inflammation in his throwing arm.

“The Dodgers recalled RHP Kyle Hurt and placed LHP Justin Wrobleski on the injured list with left forearm inflammation,” wrote the team on X.

The Dodgers announced the latest development ahead of their 6-2 loss against the Brewers. With Sunday’s loss, the Dodgers lost the four-game set 3-1. Considering their recent rough patch, this series was crucial in the race to the playoffs. The Dodgers could have become the NL leaders. Instead, they are now two places down, ranking third in the NL.

Justin Wrobleski is having a breakout season with the Dodgers this year. The 26-year-old southpaw holds an impressive 11-5 record with a 3.56 ERA in 21 outings so far. However, Wrobleski’s splits belie his struggles on the mound, especially in the second half.

Wrobleski went into the All-Star break with a 10-2 record and a 2.69 ERA across 100.1 innings. However, in his 5 starts in the second half, Wrobleski struggled to hold off opposing batters. Since the All-Star break, he posted a 1-3 record with a 6.92 ERA across 26 innings.

Wrobleski has allowed 19 homers this season. During his last five outings alone, he has allowed 11 home runs in total. The number is a sharp contrast to the 8 he surrendered in the entire first half.

When speculation arose about whether the workload had been catching up to Wrobleski, manager Dave Roberts dismissed the concerns.

“You know, I don’t know if that’s entirely accurate in the sense of what he threw in the Minors, what he threw in the postseason,” Roberts reportedly said. “But regardless, is it sustainable? We’ll see. And at some point in time he’s going to go to the ‘pen anyway with the guys we have coming back.”

Last season, Wrobleski pitched 66.2 innings in the big leagues, making a combined total of 123.1 innings, including Triple-A. This year, Wrobleski has already thrown a career-high of 126.1 innings. After Saturday’s start, Wrobleski claimed he was feeling fine physically.

“It’s just part of a long season, part of something I got to get ready for years to come,” Wrobleski said, per NY Post. “Just trying to lean on people that have done it, and just again continue to try to take care of my body the best I can and feeling as good I can right now.”

As his workload has piled up, the LHP has not recorded a win in August. Manager Roberts wanted to move him into the bullpen to manage his workload, but now Wrobleski is on the 15-day IL.

The Dodgers are already facing multiple pitching injuries. Shohei Ohtani still remains shut down from pitching due to knee inflammation and right biceps issues. Tyler Glasnow (lower back spasms) and Blake Treinen (right elbow inflammation) are now on the 60-day IL. With Wrobleski’s forearm inflammation, their pitching staff is now further depleted. The Dodgers bullpen is also overtaxed. But much to the Dodgers’ relief, Glasnow and Ohtani are nearing their return, which would bolster their rotation.

Meanwhile, the Dodgers have also recalled Kyle Hurt from Triple-A. It now remains to be seen how they fare in the coming games.

The post LA Dodgers Face Another Rotation Setback Amid Series Loss to Brewers appeared first on EssentiallySports.

Instead, he has a different explanation.

“I don’t sense guys pressing in their at-bats. I feel like I know what that looks like. I’ve been there, done that. I’ve seen that from guys before,” Boone said in Saturday’s postgame interview with YES Network. “We’re just having a hard time getting some results right now.”

New York has a 14-12 record in the second half, and while that doesn’t look so bad on the surface, a deeper look reveals some concerns.

They have a .203 batting average and .626 OPS since the All-Star break, and have had 15 games with 2 or fewer runs in that span. On the other hand, their rotation is still incredible with a 2.03 ERA (in the last 17 games). But the same cannot be said about their offense.

“It’s a hard season,” he added. “We know adverse times are going to come in different kinds of ways, and for a position player group, it’s been a tough time.”

The Yankees have been struggling since June.

They had a batting average of .243 at the end of May, but then the Bronx Bombers lost their captain, Aaron Judge, to injury (a stress fracture in his first right rib), and it all went downhill.

Other key hitters like Cody Bellinger (left hamstring strain) and Giancarlo Stanton (right calf strain) are also on the injured list. 

Without some of their biggest sluggers, the Yankees haven’t been the same. They are still second in the AL East with a 68-55 record and are chasing the Tampa Bay Rays with a 6.5-game difference. Meanwhile, the Boston Red Sox are just 2.0 games behind the Pinstripes. 

That’s why Aaron Boone noted, “It’s been playoffs every day, it feels like, you know, these games” after they lost the third game (1-0) against the Seattle Mariners. 

Since then, they have dropped two more and lost the series against Toronto with 1 game remaining.

Lately, the rotation has been the only bright spot for the team. They are at the top of the league with a 3.28 ERA. The New York Pitchers are the reason they still have a +84 run differential, but the existing lineup has to step up. 

Ben Rice was hitting well previously, but he went 0-for-4 on Saturday. And he has gone 3-for-26 in his last 7 games. Jazz Chisholm Jr has also been struggling for some time. He has a .214 batting average, while Trent Grisham is hardly better, batting at .223 this season.

Since June, the team has hovered near the bottom of MLB in batting average, on-base percentage, and runs scored, averaging just around 3.3 runs per game over a 40+ game stretch. This is how the team’s offensive ranks since June looks like:

• .218 AVG (30th)
• .668 OPS (29th)
• .284 OBP (30th)
• .383 SLG (25th)
• 3.78 runs per game (28th)

But the Yankees manager refuses to forfeit faith in his boys. 

“You know, these are our guys. And I continue to believe wholeheartedly,” Aaron Boone exclaimed, but he did look a little uneasy on camera.

Aaron Boone has indicated towards some shakeup, as well. Now, it’s probably just a matter of time for that, while the Yanks hope for their captain’s return this season.  

The post “Hard Time”: New York Yankees Manager Aaron Boone Deflects on Third Loss in a Row appeared first on EssentiallySports.

They are falling further behind the Tampa Bay Rays, while the Boston Red Sox are inching closer every other day. And their offensive struggles are piling up as well. Aaron Judge’s absence at the plate has been impossible to ignore, but finally, after more than two months, the captain has some good news.

“Yankees star Aaron Judge took a step closer to returning after playing catch for the first time since he was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his ribs in early June,” Yahoo Sports shared on X. 

Judge has been out since May 31 due to a stress fracture in the first right rib. Despite spending more than 2 months on the injured list, there hasn’t been considerable recovery for the 3x AL MVP. At least not enough for him to start baseball practices. However, on Friday, the 34-year-old played catch for the first time. But the push doesn’t end there.

The captain also did some outdoor running.  

The right fielder suffered an injury on his right side during a matchup against the Houston Astros on April 26, but he continued to play through it for over a month. While he last appeared for the Yankees on May 31, he was placed on the 10-day IL on June 5 due to increased discomfort, and the imaging revealed a rib fracture.

Even after a month, there wasn’t significant improvement, and New York had to transfer him to the 60-day IL. That was July 18. 

The captain said that he felt better, but it was still not enough for a return. Then there was another scan on August 5.

That revealed enough healing for the doctors to clear him for outdoor running and upper body resistance training. It was enough for Aaron Judge to feel positive about returning this season.

Previously, he was limited to lower body and neck exercises.

At the moment, Aaron Boone and the team are playing it safe with Judge’s return without pushing him too much. 

“We expect him back, but we’re in the early stages of baseball activities, so hopefully things continue to go well,” Boone said, via MLB.com. “He hasn’t done any baseball things in a while, so there’s a lot more to do.”

From 2020 through 2025, the team has won at a 94-win pace per 162 games with Judge in the lineup, while that has dropped to a 76-win pace without him. This season, in the captain’s absence, the team has recorded 32-31. And their lineup sits at the 2nd-worst OPS in the league (.636).

While Boone has added that Judge may not necessarily need any more re-imaging during his rehab progress until the very end, he has not yet done “any baseball things in a while.”

Friday was definitely good news, but there’s still a lot to do; yet, Aaron Judge has expressed his hope to return to the lineup this season.

While every person related to the Yankees is hoping for a quick return, the conversation has gone way past the duration of Judge’s time on the IL.

It’s not about his recovery timeline anymore

Judge played his last game in May, and the Yankees were among the top of the MLB teams with 305 runs and a .243 batting average. During his absence, they scored just 241 runs, and their batting average now stands at .230 (29th in the league). Their 5.2 runs per game went down to just 3.9 after the Pinstripes placed Judge on the IL. 

In the division, they are still in second place and comfortably en route to the playoffs with a +7.5-game cushion in the Wild Card race. But the team that was once going toe-to-toe with the Rays for the top spot in the AL East is now 6.5 games behind them.

Meanwhile, the Red Sox have had a dramatic turnaround. They are just 2.0 games away from replacing the Yankees. That’s why analyst Stephen A. Smith exclaimed that the Yankees don’t appear to be as formidable as they once were. 

But that’s not entirely on Aaron Judge.

New York is also missing other key hitters like Giancarlo Stanton and Cody Bellinger due to injury. Even players like Ben Rice, Trent Grisham, and Jazz Chisholm Jr are not performing their best at this moment. Their rotation is the only thing holding them together. 

But every fan fears that with the current conditions, a deep run in October is almost impossible. That’s why the positive update about Judge is a huge boost for them. But they have only 39 games remaining in the regular season.

Do you think that the captain will be fully healthy in time to end the Yankees’ World Series drought?

The post Aaron Judge Gets Positive Recovery Update After Stress Fracture Diagnosis appeared first on EssentiallySports.

“Paul Skenes is having his Sunday start pushed to Wednesday,” Foul Territory reported on X. “Don Kelly told reporters it is not injury-related and that they wanted to give him more rest.”

The Pittsburgh Pirates’ 24-year-old ace is suffering through an uncharacteristic rough patch this year.

After recording a sub-2.00ERA in the last two seasons, Paul Skenes has posted a 3.88 ERA across 25 starts. The 2025 NL Cy Young winner also holds a losing record (9-11) for the first time in his career.

Skenes had a disastrous start to the season as well.

His ERA spiked to 4.00 across his first four starts. However, Skenes appeared to have recovered his footing (1.62 ERA) by the end of April, back to his usual sub-2.00 ERA. But it did not last long.

Skenes delivered only 3 wins in his last 16 starts for the Pirates since May 17.

Despite not suffering from any injuries, Skenes’ velocity has also dropped. His four-seamers, which were above 98 mph in past seasons, have dropped to 96.8 mph this season. With several issues affecting Skenes’ outings for the Pirates, the RHP did not disagree with Kelly’s decision.

“We had talked about it when I showed up to the field today. I threw my bullpen and everything yesterday, and was fully anticipating starting tomorrow,” Skenes said, per MLB.com.

“So, we talked about it when I showed up at the field. Ultimately, it was Donny’s decision, but we had talked about it. And like I said after the last start, I’ll have his back on whatever that is. I don’t necessarily disagree with the decision either.”

Skenes’ last start was against the Miami Marlins, and it was concerning for several reasons.

His velocity dipped more than usual. According to reports, his fastball sat at a career-low of 95.7 mph. Against the Marlins, he was pulled after just 65 pitches on Tuesday. He gave up 5 hits, 2 runs, and 1 home run across 5 innings. Though he did not allow more than one earned run, the Pirates lost 2-0.

After Tuesday, his ERA dipped to 3.88, but it’s still a career-high number and nowhere near his past seasons.

This season, Skenes has pitched on 7 days’ rest once, right after the All-Star break. Pitching on 7-days’ rest, he allowed only 1 run across 7.0 innings against the Cleveland Guardians.

With the forecast predicting rain on Sunday, Kelly will have reliever Lake Bachar start the series finale. He has started 4 games in 41 outings this season. The reliever holds a 3.97 ERA across two teams, the Miami Marlins and the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Pirates acquired Bachar on August 3 in exchange for RHP Brandan Bidois, Brian Sanchez, and IF Hyun Seung Lee.

Five games below .500, the Pirates are not faring well in the playoff race. With barely two months left in the season, Skenes’ struggles are affecting a crucial time.

Pirates’ playoff chances fade with every loss

The Pittsburgh Pirates ended last season at the bottom of the NL Central, with a poor 71-91 record. Despite holding a better record (60-65) than they did at this time last year, the Pirates are not doing any better.

The Pirates are still at the bottom of the NL Central and 6.5 games behind the third and final NL Wild Card spot. Four teams are currently ahead of the Pirates, including the Philadelphia Phillies, Miami Marlins, St. Louis Cardinals, and the Cincinnati Reds.

The last time Pittsburgh made it into the postseason was in 2015. They secured an NL Wild Card spot. However, their playoff run was cut short when they lost to the Chicago Cubs 4-0.

37 games are still left for the Pirates to improve their standing in the 162-game season. If Skenes and the rotation can benefit from extra rest, maybe the Pirates will be able to reap the benefits.

The post Paul Skenes Scratched From Next Pittsburgh Game In Non-Injury-Related Decision appeared first on EssentiallySports.

Smith was supposed to help justify moving Skubal. If his body is already a concern, that trade starts looking less like a calculated gamble and more like a front-office blunder.

“Hate to see this. Brady Smith, acquired in the Tarik Skubal trade, appears to suffer some arm discomfort and leaves the game,” Tigers ML Report captioned the short clip shared on X. 

Smith’s second start for High-A West Michigan on August 15 lasted just 25 pitches. Facing his fifth batter, he threw strike two, then suddenly hesitated before the next pitch. Smith appeared bothered by his throwing arm, looked toward the dugout, and the athletic trainer, Nick Wheeler, came out to take a look at the situation.

While they conversed near the mound, the West Michigan Whitecaps’ manager René Rivera entered the field, too, while pitching coach Daniel Ricabal joined just moments later, as the Detroit Tigers’ No. 15 prospect looked uncomfortable.

As Rivera took the baseball from Smith, he took off his cap and stepped off the mound. For a pitcher acquired in the Tarik Skubal trade, that is exactly the kind of scene the Tigers did not want to see.

Detroit gambled on Brady Smith’s upside. He was the rawest piece of the return, carrying a 4.36 ERA and plenty of projection. His calling card was swing-and-miss ability, backed by 113 strikeouts in 74⅓ innings and a 13.7 K/9, along with a mid-90s fastball that could reach 98 mph and a promising changeup.

Those numbers showed why the Tigers bought in, but strikeout stuff alone does not make a rotation starter. Smith still had to prove the rest of his game and his durability were good enough.

The Dodgers acquired Tarik Skubal from Detroit at the Trade Deadline. The back-to-back World Series Champion sent their three top prospects. But Detroit got three very different gambles.

Here’s a brief of what the Tigers received, excluding Brady Smith.

• Detroit bet on Zyhir Hope’s bat. He was the centerpiece, a 21-year-old outfielder with power, speed, and enough defensive versatility to become an immediate top prospect in the system. His calling card was that power-speed combination, with the ability to impact games both at the plate and on the bases. But if Hope does not turn into a star, trading Tarik Skubal for a package built around him will be hard to defend.
• They also bet on River Ryan’s rotation ceiling. He had already reached the majors, but Tommy John surgery made him a gamble from the start. His biggest calling card was premium velocity, with a four-seam fastball averaging around 97.6 mph and a sinker around 95.5 mph. The Tigers were banking on that power arm returning and holding up long enough for him to become a front-half starter. That was a risky bet before Brady Smith even entered the picture.

The Tigers gave up their two-time reigning Cy Young winner because they believed this prospect haul would justify the risk. But Smith has barely made it through the door.

He gave up two hits, two earned runs and three walks in his August 8 High-A debut, then lasted just 25 pitches in his second start before stepping off the mound. But after Brady’s first professional season in 2025, the right-hander took on a larger workload.

In his eight Single-A Ontario starts, he worked into the 5th inning or later five times, and even tossed six shutout innings with 11 strikeouts on June 25. His command improved in that span, walking only 8.4% of the batters he faced.

The 21YO can not only strike out, but also utilize those offerings to generate whiffs and chase. His combination of curveball, slider, and cutter made him look like a long-term starter.

Yet, what could infuriate Tigers fans is that Detroit had already seen the warning signs.

Minnesota once dealt two-time Cy Young winner Johan Santana for Carlos Gómez, Philip Humber, Kevin Mulvey and Deolis Guerra, only to watch that return fall far short of replacing him. Santana later broke down physically with the Mets, showing how quickly elite pitching value can vanish.

Detroit still chose to trade Skubal for projection, upside, and medical risk. But coming into the season, Brady Smith was happy, as he felt healthy. In fact, just a week back, he shared his wish to play for a complete affiliate program rather than being limited to just 3 innings, like last year.

Still, it feels like Detroit walked into a trap. The Chris Sale trade should have been another warning.

The White Sox gave Boston a proven ace and bet that Yoán Moncada, Michael Kopech, and the rest of the prospect haul would eventually justify it. Moncada was baseball’s No. 1 prospect, and Kopech touched 100 mph, but Boston got the certainty, rode Sale to a World Series title, and Chicago was left waiting on upside that never matched the hype.

Still, Detroit chose projection over proof. Smith lasting just 25 pitches shows how quickly that gamble can blow up.

Smith’s exit adds another complication to the Tigers’ deadline pitching haul

The Dodgers took Smith in the third round of the 2023 MLB Draft, but Tommy John surgery immediately put his development on hold. He finally debuted in 2025, and 2026 was supposed to be the season he proved the arm was back.

He had already climbed from Single-A to High-A, posting a 4.36 ERA with 113 strikeouts in 21 appearances. With West Michigan, he had a 2.84 ERA and five strikeouts. Detroit was reportedly considering pushing him up quickly.

River Ryan, who came to Detroit alongside Smith, was already carrying major medical baggage.

He underwent Tommy John surgery in August 2024 after forearm tightness ended a promising four-start run with the Dodgers, and he was still on the Triple-A injured list when the Skubal trade happened.

Detroit then added Kash Mayfield from San Diego for Casey Mize, only to watch the left-hander land on the IL almost immediately. So Smith’s arm scare is not happening in isolation.

This is not a rotation disaster yet, but the warning signs are piling up.

Smith was supposed to prove his durability in August and September. Instead, another arm issue may have already stopped that test before it really started.

A better view of the young prospects would have allowed Detroit to plan better for 2027. Just a week ago, they were 57-60, 4th in the AL Central. Currently, the MLB team has leapfrogged to the second spot with a 60-63 record. They are 0.5 games behind the last Wild Card spot in the American League. 

With Ryan and Mayfield already on the IL, that plan has already taken a hit. Hopefully, Smith will not suffer a serious injury and return to the mound soon enough.

The post Newest Traded Tigers Pitcher Brady Smith Visibly Suffers Arm Discomfort Before Leaving Game appeared first on EssentiallySports.

The St. Louis Cardinals drafted Báez in the second round of the MLB Draft out of his high school, Dexter Southfield, back in 2021. Since then, his pro baseball career has been in the making within the Cardinals’ farm system. This year, the Cardinals promoted Báez to Triple-A Memphis, where he put his raw power on display. The 23-year-old was leading all of Triple-A in homers with 34 long balls (2nd most in the minors) when he was called to the big leagues. And what unfolded in his debut was historic.

“HISTORY FOR JOSHUA BAEZ!” Jomboy Media wrote on X, posting his third homer on Saturday. “HE’S THE FIRST PLAYER IN MLB HISTORY TO HOMER IN HIS FIRST THREE CAREER AT-BATS!”

On Saturday, the Cardinals’ No. 3 Prospect started dismantling the Chicago Cubs’ pitching from the first inning. With the Cardinals leading 1-0, Báez walked out to face veteran Matthew Boyd with Alec Burleson on first. The Cardinals rookie launched his first big-league pitch, a 93-mph fastball, 449 feet away in center field, scoring Burleson. His two-run shot gave the Cardinals a 3-0 lead.

Throughout the night, Báez continued pushing the Cardinals. With the score tied at 3-3, manager Oliver Marmol again sent Báez to the rescue in the top of the fourth.

This time, he took five pitches to get a feel for Boyd’s pitching. On a full-count pitch, he did not hesitate. Báez pulled the changeup to 382 feet left for a solo shot. His second home run put the Cardinals back in the lead at 4-3.

After hitting 2 homers in his first two at-bats, Báez matched Bob Nieman, who recorded the same feat on September 14, 1951. This year, the Arizona Diamondbacks rookie Jose Fernandez also went deep twice during his MLB debut on March 31. But then, Báez went a step ahead.

He was at the plate again in the top of the sixth, after Boyd allowed a leadoff walk to Burleson. The rookie finished off in style, and this time on a slider.

Báez blasted the ball to right, scoring Burleson for the second time. The Cardinals were now leading 6-3.

After Báez, this year’s Home Run Derby winner, Jordan Walker, hit a solo shot with one out to increase the lead to 7-3.

By the end of Saturday’s 8-4 win, Báez went 3-for-4, with 3 home runs, 5 RBIs, and 12 total bases. Per Sarah Langs of MLB.com, “Báez is only the second player to hit each of his first three home runs in the same game at all, joining Seby Zavala on July 31, 2021, in his 18th career game.”

At the time, Zavala was 27, playing his second MLB season. But Joshua Báez caught his break in his very first appearance.

As Báez scripted MLB history, Matthew Boyd bore all the heat. After the game, Boyd shared his reaction to the 23-year-old’s debut.

“He’s a good player. There’s a reason why he’s called up,” Boyd said, per MLB.com. “He’s talented. He’s a good hitter. My mentality: You don’t attack anybody any differently. He just, he got the better of me today.”

Even the commentators couldn’t hold back from calling Báez the “future” after experiencing his energy on the field. And as he swung his last homer to right field, past Seiya Suzuki, we could watch a proud Jordan Walker celebrating that history, along with the rest of the dugout, while Iván Herrera was in complete disbelief, with hands over his head.

When Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol was asked about the reason for calling up the No. 3 prospect before the game, the faith in Báez’s physical ability and mental confidence was evident.

“It doesn’t quietly whisper. It screams at you when you watch this kid for any length of time,” Marmol had noted.

At 18, Báez was sure to hit the big leagues in two years, but he shared the effort it took to reach here at 23.

“It’s a roller coaster. You have to go through so many things on and off the field. It’s not just baseball. It’s the mental side of it. … I was just an 18-year-old, and I had no idea,” he said, referring to all the adjustments and struggles.

After his 3rd homer, Báez himself was stunned.

“I was just really glad that the ball went over the wall. had no idea. So I just started running, and then I seen that it went over and I was like, ‘This is insane.’,” he opened up about the ball that traveled 368 ft to create history.

But his power bat is nothing new for the Cardinals camp.

Joshua Báez was hitting at a .256 AVG, with 90 RBIs, 21 stolen bases and a .901 OPS across 103 games at Triple-A Memphis.

During Saturday’s game, the Cardinals scored 8 runs on 7 hits. The run support from Báez and the rest of the lineup made starter Michael McGreevy’s outing smoother.

“I love when history gives me run support,” McGreevy joked to MLB.com about the third HR while also reminding the league of his power.

With a 3.48 ERA across 24 starts, McGreevy allowed 3 runs on 5 hits across 6 innings on Saturday.

As the Cardinals improved to 62-61 and moved within 3.5 games of an NL Wild Card spot, manager Marmol spoke about Báez’s performance.

Cardinals skipper on Joshua Báez

Joshua Báez launched home runs to left, right, and center, quite literally at Wrigley Field on Saturday. He scripted history in front of  39,834 spectators, including 30 people split between family members and friends. Báez had ample support in his debut, and he delivered.

And even when he didn’t homer in his last plate appearance, the ballpark cheered because Saturday’s entertainment was worth it all. So much so that Marmol, who gets consumed by bullpen decisions and every other aspect of a matchup during a game, had to pause his routine.

“He didn’t give us an option but to actually take a step back and just enjoy the heck out of what was going on there,” Marmol exclaimed.

Manager Oli Marmol was already excited to watch the 6’3″, 220-pound right fielder in the big leagues. And when Báez scripted MLB history, he was ecstatic.

“The second and third is just, holy c—,” Marmol said, per MLB.com.

In fact, during his 4th plate appearance, the whole Wrigley Field rose to its feet, ready for another dinger. Pitcher Colin Rea had to cup his hand to his ear just to listen to the PitchCom call over the noise.

In the end, Joshua lined out to left, but still, the crowd applauded.

“I did not know that they were standing up,” Báez shared with MLB.com. “I was just trying to take deep breaths and just enjoy the moment and just compete.”

The post 23YO Cardinals’ Pro Makes MLB History as His Incredible Debut Gets Even Better appeared first on EssentiallySports.

With Tucker struggling at Dodger Stadium throughout the season, manager Dave Roberts gave him a rest day on Saturday. However, the move did not sit well with an MLB analyst.

“Kyle Tucker is out of the lineup today in the Dodgers’ most pivotal home series of the year,” Doug McKain, who extensively covers the Dodgers, wrote on X. “They’re keeping a $60 million dollar per year player out of the lineup because of how bad he’a struggling at home? What?! This is so embarrassing.”

The Dodgers are currently in the middle of a crucial series against the Milwaukee Brewers, perhaps their biggest home series of the season. They entered Saturday’s game trailing the NL-leading Brewers, and after Tucker went hitless in his first eight at-bats against them over the previous two games, Roberts chose to keep him out of the lineup on Saturday.

The decision was in line with the pattern of Tucker’s home stand slumps this season. Roberts also addressed the issue during his pregame interview.

“Being at home right now, just he’s kind of [frustrated],” Roberts said, per Dodger Nation on X. “Today is a work day, and then he’ll be back in there tomorrow; he’ll play all three in Denver.”

Kyle Tucker’s splits this season at home and on the road are an anomaly.

In 59 games, Tucker is slashing only .192/.290/.276 with 2 homers and 17 RBI at home. On the contrary, his slash line on the road reads .275/.371/.469 with 9 homers and 37 RBIs across 56 games. The reason behind such a drastic difference?

Neither the team nor the player has figured it out.

“I don’t think he even realized it until recently, when I think people brought it to light. The splits are stark, home-road; I don’t think we have a reason behind it,” Roberts added.

Saturday marked the second time Tucker was given a rest day this week.

The Dodgers rested him against the Kansas City Royals on Monday, as the team began a seven-game home stand. Though the Dodgers swept the Royals during the three-game set, the Brewers pose a much tougher challenge.

For the third game of the four-game series, the Dodgers called up Alex Call to replace Tucker in the lineup. However, in front of Jacob Misiorowski, the Dodgers’ lineup fell flat.

Through 6 innings, Misiorowski dominated the 2025 World Series champions, allowing only 1 run, 1 walk, and 5 hits. He struck out 6 as the Brewers took the game 4-1.

The only scoring play for LA came on Shohei Ohtani’s triple, which Alex Call scored on. The Dodgers will now aim to split the four-game series on Sunday.

The post “So Embarrassing”: Analyst Calls Out Dodgers Keeping $60 Million Per Year Player Out of Biggest Home Series appeared first on EssentiallySports.